Game



' J. L. MCKEOWN GAME Nov. 5, 1940.

Filed Jan. 15,' 1940 Patented Nov. 5,-1940 PATE NT oF-FicE GAME 7 r J ohn L. McKeown, Winnetka, Ill. Application January 15, 1940," Serial N 0. 313,963

8 Claims. 01. 46665) The invention relates to improvements in games and has for its primary object the provision of an improved game operating by chance, which is of simple construction and amusing in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists of the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a game embodying the invention;

Figure 2, a transverse vertical section of same;

Figure 3, an enlarged vertical section employed in the game;

Figure 4, a view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Figure 5, an enlarged detailed section of the lower end of the top showing the same after discharge of a. projectile carried thereby.

Figure 6, a vertical section of a modified form of spinner or top; and

Figure 7, a partial sectional view taken substantially on line 'l-l of Fig. 6.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing comprises a circular game board or enclosure l having a bottom which slopes slightly toward its center and provided with a peripheral wall or flange H the of a top and radiating partitions I2 forming peripheral pockets entirely surrounding the outer edge of the game board 10 as indicated. A shoulder or ledge i3 is provided at the inner edge of said pockets in order to retain a ball I4 therein.

A spinning top I5 is provided with a spinning head IB and a central tube ll projecting slightly at l8 from the bottom of the top body.v As shown, the lower edge l8 of the tube ll is bent or turned slightly inwardly so as to-releasably engage and hold the steel ball l4 therein. A spring-actuated plunger I9 is arranged as shown in the tube I l and is normally held in retracted position by means of a spring detent 20 engaging the head of the plunger as shown in Fig. 3. A yoke 2i is attached as shown to the upper end of the detent 20 and projects loosely through suitable openings In playing games with the device,'the ball [4 is first inserted into the lower end of the tube l1, forcing the plunger I9 upwardly until its head is engaged by the detent 20, then the top is spun upon the game boa-rd l0 and permitted to run or rotate until it falls of its own weight and rolls upon the surface of the board. As soon as the weight of the top is thus thrown on the operating arm 22 the detent 20 is depressed to release the plunger I9, thereby forcibly projecting the ball M from said top and into one of said pockets, the ledge l3 retaining the ball in the pocket it first enters. The number indicated on the bottomof the pocket will indicate the value of the shot and may be utilized in playing a large variety of games, such as backgammon without dice and the like. The specific form and arrangement of parts constitutes a simple and effective construction for the purpose.

In the modified form of top or spinner disclosed in Figs. 6 and 7, aspinning body 23 in the form of a wheel is provided with a central vertical tube 24 projecting as shown from both the A spring detent 29 is arranged as shown in the body 23 to engage a notch in the side of the plunger 26 to hold said plunger in its retracted position when the ball 21 is forced over the end of the tube 24, as indicated in Fig. 6. At its outer end the detent 29 is connected with a tripping trigger 30 arranged as shown in the periphery of the wheel 23, so that when the body 23 ceases spinning and rolls upon the surface of the board H] the trigger 30 will operate to release the plunger 21 to project the ball 21 into one of the pockets of the game board as before.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred forms of construction for carrying the invention into effect, these are capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details disclosed, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a top; a projectile carried by said top; means on said top adapted and arranged to project said projectile; and means on said top arranged to cause projection of said projectile when said top ceases spinning and rolls.

2. The device specified in claim 1 in which the projectile constitutes the spinning point of the top.

3. The device specified in claim 1 in which the projecting means on the top is spring-actuated.

4. The device specified in claim 1 in which the projectile constitutes the spinning point of the top and the projecting means on the top is springactuated.

5. A top comprising a body arranged tospin upon a vertical axis and having a bore extending vertically from the spinning point thereof; a spring-actuated plunger in said bore arranged to project a ball therefrom; and means for releasably retaining a ball in the mouth of said bore; a ball arranged to be releasably retained in the mouth of said bore and protrude therefrom to constitute the spinning point of said top; and means on said top for actuating said plunger when the top ceases spinning and rolls.

6. A top comprising a body arranged to spin upon a vertical axis and having a tube protruding centrallyfrom the bottom thereof; a ball arranged to fit into the protruding end of said tube and releasably engage it; a spring-actuated plunger in said tube arranged to project said ball; and means on said body for actuating said plunger when the top ceases spinning and rolls.

7. A top; a projectile carried thereby; and means on said top for automatically projecting said projectile when the top ceases spinning and falls to the spinning surface.

8. The combination specified in claim 7 in which the projectile constitutes the spinning point of the top.

' JOHN L. McKEOWN. 

